MANILA, Aug. 11 (PNA) — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) assured the public on Tuesday that the newly-installed full body scanners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority (NAIA) Terminal 3 are safe and would not expose passengers to hazardous radiation.
This, after the authority ran a demo of the new scanners, which make use of low-frequency radiation, allowing safe use of the scanners for pregnant women and those with body implants.
MIAA further said that the new scanners also make use of an advanced millimeter-wave technology that detects concealed objects on a person’s body, which means that they would no longer require the standard security frisking.
The new body scanner can detect ceramics, liquids, metals, narcotics, and explosives.
Under the scanning procedure, a passenger going through the body scanner will simply have to turn 360 degrees inside its open booth.
Immediately, a passenger’s scan results will be shown on the operator’s screen indicating the location of concealed items. Passengers will then be requested to remove items in question.
MIAA meanwhile ensured privacy since the full body scanner has a mode that will present only the outline of a passenger’s body.
Full body scanners are placed only at the Final Security Screening Checkpoints (FSCP) of each terminal. Three units were installed at Terminal 1, five units each at Terminal 2 and 3, and a unit at Terminal 4.
The scanners will serve as a security enhancement, augmenting the 26 walk-through metal detectors also at the FSCP of the terminals.
To recall, 14 full body scanners were procured by the MIAA last year. These were delivered late in June and were installed last July 31.
Bidding for this project began in February 2013 while the contract was awarded to Defense & Protection System (Phil), Inc. in November 2014.
The total bid amount was Php 149.55-million. (PNA/RMA/CTB/ANP)
